Thursday evening update includes WTAW’s Zach Taylor’s visit with R.C. Slocum, who was hired as Texas A&M head football coach when Crow became the Aggies Athletic Director.
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Thursday afternoon update from the Texas A&M Athletics Department:
Texas A&M Distinguished Alumnus, Aggie legend and 1957 Heisman Trophy winner John David Crow passed away late Wednesday night at the age of 79 surrounded by his wife, Carolyn, their two daughters, Annalisa Stenklyft and Jeannie Pietrowiak, and several grandchildren.
Services are pending and the family requests privacy at this time.
Their only son, John David Jr., was born while his father was a player at Texas A&M and John David Jr. played football at the University of Alabama. He preceded his father in death due to a car accident.
One of the most decorated student-athletes at Texas A&M, Crow was born July 8, 1935 and grew up in Springhill, Louisiana where he earned All-America honors in football and also lettered in basketball and track. He was recruited to Texas A&M by Head Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and assistant coach Elmer Smith and came to campus as a true freshman in 1954.
Crow remarked how he was glad he did not have to attend the football camp in Junction since freshmen were ineligible at that time.
In addition to playing running back he played defensively and was known for his tough, physical playing style. Crow earned three letters under Coach Bryant from 1955-57. In 1957, he and his teammates helped the Aggies reach No. 1 in the polls. He was the first Heisman Trophy winner in Texas A&M history and the only Heisman Trophy winner in Coach Bryant’s illustrious career. (A partial list of his awards will follow at the end of this release.)
When Coach Bryant retired from coaching football, he was quoted as saying, “John David Crow was the finest player I ever coached. Watching film on him was like watching a grown man play with boys.”
In addition to his exploits on the field, Crow, Texas A&M Class of ’58, earned his degree in business administration and was named to the 1957 Scholastic All-America team presented by the America Peoples Encyclopedia and was named to the Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.
The second player selected overall in the 1958 NFL draft by the Chicago Cardinals, Crow played 11 seasons in the NFL serving as a team captain of the Cardinals and finishing his career playing and serving as a team captain for the San Francisco 49ers. He was a four-time selection to the Pro Bowl and was named to the All-Pro team of the 1960’s as a halfback.
After his playing career, Crow went into coaching. He began with Coach Bryant on the Alabama coaching staff and also coached on the NFL level with the Cleveland Browns and the San Diego Chargers.
He was named the head coach and athletics director at Northeast Louisiana University, now known as the University of Louisiana Monroe.
Texas A&M athletics director and head football coach Jackie Sherrill brought Aggieland’s favorite son back home in 1983 to serve as associate athletics director and remained in that role until he was promoted to Athletics Director in December of 1988. Crow served in that capacity until 1993.
During his time as the associate and athletics director, Crow was at the forefront of gender equity at Texas A&M. Something he always felt strongly about was instilled by his parents and Coach Bryant—“if you do anything, do it to the best of your abilities.”
Crow would continue to serve Texas A&M as the Director of Athletic Development from 1993 until he officially retired from Texas A&M University in June of 2001. In his role, Crow was responsible for the endowment of several scholarships as well as overall fundraising for the athletics department.
Crow was inducted into the Texas A&M Hall of Fame in 1968, the Louisiana Hall of Fame in 1976 and was named to the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1976 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1982. In 2004, he was named a Distinguished Alumnus by Texas A&M and was recently honored during the Aggies’ first year in the Southeastern Conference as an SEC Legend at the 2012 SEC Championship Game.
Crow attended the Heisman Trophy ceremonies whenever possible and took great pride in Johnny Manziel winning the trophy in 2012.
The core values of Texas A&M University—respect, integrity, leadership, excellence, loyalty and selfless service truly describe this Aggie legend, John David Crow.
QUOTES FROM TEXAS A&M:
PRESIDENT MICHAEL K. YOUNG
“While I never had the opportunity to meet John David Crow in person, his accomplishments as both a student athlete, coach and administrator at Texas A&M are legendary. He not only embodied the spirit of Texas A&M but richly contributed to the traditions and values that make this place so special. Marti and I were extremely sad to hear about John David Crow’s passing and on behalf of Aggies everywhere we extend our condolences to the entire Crow family.”
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS ERIC HYMAN
“This is a sad day for the Aggie Family, and our thoughts and prayers are with Carolyn and the entire Crow family. We have lost a true Aggie legend and one of the all-time college football greats. Not only was John David the first Heisman winner in Texas A&M history, but he was the only Heisman winner to play for legendary Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
“What many don’t know is that John David was also a terrific coach and outstanding athletics administrator. This year, we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of women’s athletics at Texas A&M. It was John David who really took the lead in helping develop women’s athletics at our university. In getting to know John David, one thing was quite clear: He believed if you were going to do anything, you better do it right and to the best of your abilities.”
HEAD FOOTBALL COACH KEVIN SUMLIN
“The one thing you knew without reservation was John David Crow was loyal to Texas A&M. He has always been supportive of me and our football program. He was always willing to do whatever we asked and that meant a great deal.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Carolyn and his entire family as well as our Aggie football family.”
FORMER TEXAS A&M HEAD COACH R.C. SLOCUM
“John David Crow and I became AD and head coach on the same day back in 1988. He was always supportive of me and our entire athletics program.
“I loved, admired and respected John David. He was a “Man’s Man” in every way. He was a great man, devoted husband, father, grandfather, friend and Aggie. I am honored to have known such a giant of a man.”
JOHN DAVID CROW ACCOLADES
· Named SEC Football Legend honored at SEC Championship Game (2012)
· Named a Distinguished Alumnus by Texas A&M (2004).
· Named the PricewaterhouseCoopers Doak Walker Legends Award (2004)
· A member of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame (1976)
· A member of the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame (1968)
· A member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame (1982)
· A member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (1976)
· A member of the Louisiana Sports Museum of Champions (2001)
· Morris Frank Touchdowner Award (1979) presented by the Houston Touchdown Club for contributions and
outstanding achievements reflecting honor and scholarship to the game of football
· Winner of the 1957 Heisman Memorial Trophy presented by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York
· 1991 recipient of the Distinguished American Award presented by the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame
· Winner of the 1957 Walter Camp Memorial Trophy presented by the Washington, D.C. Touchdown Club
· 1957 Southwesterner of the Year and Amateur Athlete of the Year as presented by the Texas Sports Writers Association
· Chick Harley Award presented by the Columbus, Ohio, Touchdown Club
· 1957 Scholastic All-America as presented by America Peoples Encyclopedia
· Consensus All-America in 1957 including, but not limited to, Associated Press, United Press, Look All-America as selected by the Football Writers Association
· Top performer in College Football by Sport Magazine
· United Press 1957 Player of the Year
· United Press 1957 Back of the Year
· Outstanding Player in the 1958 Hula Bowl (January)
· Outstanding Player in the Gator Bowl
· Player of the Year by Coach & Athlete Magazine (January, 1958)
· Member of the 1958 College All-Star team (Played in summer)
· No. 1 draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals
· Twice named All-NFL
· Four times named to NFL Pro-Bowl (1960, 1961, 1963 & 1966)
· 1966 Len Eshmont Award voted upon by the San Francisco 49er squad to the most courageous and inspirational player
· Served as a team captain for both the Cardinals and the 49ers
· Named to the Texas All-Time Professional Football Team (1975)
· 1978 Louisiana Coach of the Year (Northeast Louisiana) as selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Original story:
Texas A&M’s first Heisman Trophy Winner, John David Crow, has died.
A family statement issued through Texas A&M athletics says Crow “passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife, Carolyn, and family. Services are pending and the family requests privacy at this time.”
July 8th would have marked Crow’s 80th birthday.
Biography from The Association of Former Students website:
John David Crow ’58 received his bachelor’s degree in General Business in 1958. A member of the Aggie football team, Crow played on the 1957 Southwest Conference Championship team and was named Scholastic All-American. He is the only Aggie to be awarded the Heisman Memorial Trophy. Upon graduation, Crow was the number one draft choice of the NFL Chicago Cardinals in 1958. He later played in St. Louis and San Francisco and was a Pro Bowl player in 1960, 1961, 1963 and 1966 before retiring in 1969. Crow went on to coach both collegiate and professional teams before to returning to Texas A&M as Associate Athletic Director and later Athletic Director. In recognition of his athletic career, Crow has been honored by the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, and the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame. He serves Texas A&M as Director Emeritus of Texas A&M Letterman’s Association and is an ardent supporter of Texas A&M athletics. Crow also gives of his time and talents in service of various charitable organizations in his community and across the country. Born in Marion, Louisiana, Crow and wife, Carolyn, have three children, Analisa, Jeannie and their late son, John, Jr., as well as seven grandchildren.
John David Crow, the 1957 Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M University, will be honored on Friday, Oct. 15 with a 3 p.m. ceremony as a statue of the Aggie legend is unveiled in front of the Bright Football Complex.
The statue is a gift to the Aggie athletics department from Erle Nye, who commissioned the project as a representation of the great players in Texas A&M history. The statue was created by Steven Whyte of Carmel, California.
“John David Crow is not only a Heisman Trophy winner and one of the most decorated Aggies in history,” Director of Athletics Bill Byrne said. “He has been an invaluable leader for Texas A&M throughout the years.
After graduating from Texas A&M in 1958 and following an outstanding NFL career with the (Chicago and St. Louis) Cardinals and the (San Francisco) 49ers, John David was an excellent coach and college administrator.
As the athletic director at Texas A&M, he championed many causes including improving women’s athletics here in Aggieland.
Even after he stepped down from his athletic director position, he and his wife, Carolyn, have stayed involved and have been great friends to me and Texas A&M University.”
Crow is a member of many hall of fames including the Aggie Athletics Hall of Fame (1968) as well as the Texas Sports Hall of Fame (1982). He was named a Distinguished Alumnus for Texas A&M in 2004 and was also named the Doak Walker Legends Award winner that same year. In addition to Crow’s exploits on the field, he was named to the 1957 Scholastic All-America team as presented by the America Peoples Encyclopedia, and was named Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.
The All-American football player helped the Aggie football team and Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant fashion an undefeated record in 1956 (9-0-1) and during his 1957 Heisman Trophy season, the Aggie football team was ranked #1 in the country for a period of time. Not only is Crow the only Heisman winner in Texas A&M history, he is the only Heisman winner to have played for Coach Bryant.
During the 1957 season, Coach Bryant commented to sportswriters, “If they don’t give the Heisman to John David, they ought to quit giving it.” Upon Bryant’s retirement from coaching football, he was quoted as saying, “John David Crow was the finest player I ever coached. Watching film on him was like watching a grown man play with boys.”
Crow was a first-round selection of the Chicago Cardinals and the #2 player chosen overall in the 1958 NFL draft and he went on to star and serve as a team captain for the Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers during his 11-year NFL career. A four-time selection to the Pro Bowl, he was named to the All-Pro team of the 1960’s as a halfback and was the record holder for the Cardinals with 51 career touchdowns.
After his NFL career, Crow went into coaching and served as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama under Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. From there he served as an assistant coach on the NFL level with the Cleveland Browns and the San Diego Chargers. He would become the Athletics Director and Head Football Coach at Northeast Louisiana University.
Former A&M football coach and athletic director Jackie Sherrill brought Crow back to Aggieland to serve as an associate athletic director from 1983 through 1988 when Crow was elevated to athletic director in December of 1988. He served in that capacity until stepping down in 1993 to devote more time to a business partnership with Coach Bryant’s son. Even then, Crow still served the university by helping the A&M Foundation with fund raising for the overall university.
Crow was born July 8, 1935, and grew up in Springhill, Louisiana, where he was a prep All-American in football and also lettered in basketball and track. He graduated from Texas A&M in 1958 with a degree in business administration.
A partial list of John David Crow’s accomplishments:
Named a Distinguished Alumnus by Texas A&M (2004)
Named the PricewaterhouseCoopers Doak Walker Legands Award (2004)
A member of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame (1976)
A member of the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame (1968)
A member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame (1982)
A member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (1976)
A member of the Louisiana Sports Museum of Champions (2001)
Morris Frank Touchdowner Award (1979) presented by the Houston Touchdown Club for contributions and outstanding achievements reflecting honor and scholarship to the game of football
Winner of the 1957 Heisman Memorial Trophy presented by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York
1991 recipient of the Distinguished American Award presented by the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame
Winner of the 1957 Walter Camp Memorial Trophy presented by the Washington, D.C. Touchdown Club
1957 Southwesterner of the Year and Amateur Athlete of the Year as presented by the Texas Sports Writers Association
1957 Chick Harley Award presented by the Columbus, Ohio, Touchdown Club
1957 Scholastic All-America as presented by America Peoples Encyclopedia
Consensus All-America in 1957 including, but not limited to, Associated Press, United Press, Look All-America as selected by the Football Writers Association
Top performer in College Football by Sport Magazine
United Press 1957 Player of the Year
United Press 1957 Back of the Year
Outstanding Player in the 1958 Hula Bowl (January)
Outstanding Player in the Gator Bowl Player of the Year by Coach & Athlete Magazine (January, 1958)
Member of the 1958 College All-Star team (Played in summer)
No. 1 draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals
Twice named All-NFL
Four times named to NFL Pro-Bowl (1960, 1961, 1963 & 1966)
1966 Len Eshmont Award voted upon by the San Francisco 49er squad to the most courageous and inspirational player
Served as a team captain for both the Cardinals and the 49ers
Named to the Texas All-Time Professional Football Team (1975)
1978 Louisiana Coach of the Year (Northeast Louisiana) as selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.